Lumine and Paimon chased after Kujou Sara.
But unfortunately, they were still one step too late.
Kujou Sara had already collapsed beside the Shogun's Throne.
And in front of the throne stood a figure all too familiar to Lumine.
"Barging in all fired up, one after another... If I didn't know this was Tenshukaku, I'd think it was some street market or bazaar."
Glancing at the fallen Kujou Sara, Signora sneered, "Now, she'll finally learn some manners, won't she?"
"Ah, Kujou Sara was taken out by Signora..." Paimon exclaimed in shock.
The Raiden Shogun on the throne spoke faintly, "The transgressions of Inazuma's people are mine to punish. You have no right, Signora."
Her voice was calm, but the pressure it carried was immense.
Signora flashed a disdainful smile, then mockingly bowed, "My apologies, then, General."
"Signora!"
Lumine could no longer suppress her rage, glaring at Signora.
"Enough already. I know you can't forget me—no need to keep my name on your lips. I get it, you hold a grudge... Persistent little traveler. Seeing you here doesn't surprise me at all. But... heh, with Gu Chen not by your side, where'd you muster the guts to charge in?"
Signora's tone grew even more condescending as she sized up Lumine, unable to fathom what gave the girl such confidence.
"Hmph, you've been secretly promoting Delusions, trying to control Inazuma single-handedly..."
"Eager to expose my crimes in front of the General? Hehehe... I'm just a diplomat from Snezhnaya. No idea what you're talking about." Signora shook her head repeatedly.
The arrogance on her face only fueled Lumine's anger.
Lumine listed Signora's crimes one by one, then declared after a moment, "It's time to end this."
"I'm getting a bit tired of that face of yours too, but I never pegged you for someone so reckless. Is it because that man sheltered you too well? Or are you just plain stupid? Before you talk big, have you even realized... you're still Inazuma's most wanted criminal? Think about your own situation first." Signora gloated, "Storming into Tenshukaku and mouthing off before the Shogun—what else is that but walking into a trap? Hope you finally see the gap between us, be it status... or strength."
"I challenge you—to a Duel Before the Shogun!" Lumine declared resolutely.
Signora was momentarily stunned.
The Raiden Shogun on the throne let out a faint "Hm," signifying her approval.
"Pulling this card, huh... You've learned to use this nation's rules, have you?"
"It's barely leveled the playing field between us. I'll admit, it caught me off guard. But the loser... dies, you know?"
"No Gu Chen here to save you this time. Lose, and you're really done for! Don't you value your life?"
"Have you really thought this through?"
"Lumine..." Paimon advised worriedly.
Lumine drew her sword without hesitation.
Seeing this, Signora laughed coldly. "Hehehe... Very well, I'll deign to dance with you—until one of us... reaches the end of their life."
[Paimon]: Gotta say, Signora's got some serious attitude!
[Signora]: What law says people can't have attitude?
[Paimon]: Touché. (Paimon · Shocked)
[Heizou]: I've got some theories. As a diplomat, Signora must've tipped off the General about Gu Chen and the others being stowaways ahead of time. Normal stowaways wouldn't catch the General's eye, but one who can fight a god? She'd take it deadly seriously. She won't let anything disrupt her eternity, so no wonder the General came straight to Ritou!
[Gu Chen]: No wonder Signora's the Eighth and Tartaglia's Eleventh! (Wink)
[Tartaglia]: Mr. Gu Chen, if you've got something to say, just say it—no need for the shade! (Nahida · Pointing)
[Collei]: My head's spinning. (Collei · No Response)
[Tighnari]: Analyzing what Signora said to Lumine in the video. She definitely knows Gu Chen's alive. A Duel Before the Shogun means a loser—and the loser gets Divine Punishment from the General. If Lumine loses, Gu Chen kills Signora. If Signora loses, she dies anyway. So she's scared too!
[Paimon]: So she's scared after all? Thought she was always this cocky. (Shrug)
[Lumine]: Why do all the Fatui have so many phases? Fighting Tartaglia, he had the Hydro Vision, then Delusion, then Foul Legacy—not to mention Signora with her Cryo Vision, and now she's on fire! (Collei · No Response)
[Tartaglia]: Join the Fatui, and you can too! (Hu Tao · Sly Grin)
[Paimon]: @[Signora] What if you lose?
[Signora]: ...
In the video.
After a grueling battle, even as the Crimson Witch of Flames, Signora fell to Lumine.
"Your power... how... why..."
Signora, reverting to her original form, clutched her chest and knelt on the ground.
At that moment, the Raiden Shogun had risen from the throne at some point, slowly approaching with her greatsword in hand.
As Lumine braced herself warily, the Raiden Shogun walked right past her, raising her blade toward Signora.
The limp Signora let out a cold laugh. "I'm Snezhnaya's envoy. You know the consequences of striking me."
Staggering to her feet as she spoke.
"I swear, if you swing that blade at me, I'll make your nation pay... The Fatui will make the Inazuma you cherish suffer..."
As she drew closer, the pressure intensified. Thunder crackled along the Raiden Shogun's blade, purple light gleamed in her eyes, and behind her materialized the Triple Seal of Thunder - Wheel of a Hundred Eyes of All Wishes!
"Stop! I command you!"
"You! And all of you!"
"I... How could I..."
Signora frantically reached for the Raiden Shogun's chest, desperately trying to recreate the scene from Mondstadt Cathedral.
But the Raiden Shogun was no Venti. With a swift sidestep and slash—
Boom!
Countless blade lights sealed off everything. Divine Punishment descended, and Signora was reduced to ashes.
Slowly sheathing her blade, the Raiden Shogun said flatly, "You are... the enemy of eternity."
Lumine tensed up immediately.
"But I acknowledge your glory as victor. So... you may leave Tenshukaku standing."
Lumine and Paimon finally breathed a huge sigh of relief.
[Signora]: ...
[Paimon]: Haha, karma! (Klee · Yay!)
[Lumine]: Raiden Shogun's decisive! (Approved)
[Charlotte]: @[Tartaglia] Care for an interview? Your colleague died under the Raiden Shogun's blade—what are your thoughts?
[Tartaglia]: That's... complicated...
[Gu Chen]: When's Snezhnaya holding the memorial? I wanna eat at the banquet. I'll give 200 mora—put me at Klee's table!
[Hu Tao]: (Pops up) Hehe, business! Wangsheng Funeral Parlor offers all kinds of custom services~ (Hu Tao · Cute)
[Paimon]: Me too, 200 mora! I'll sit with Sayu—she won't out-eat me! (Paimon · Hmph)
[Tartaglia]: In that case, though it's a shame, as a colleague, I'll chip in 300!
[Klee]: (Sucrose · Obedient)
[Zhongli]: Snezhnaya loses a capable subordinate—truly regrettable. I once traded with Signora; we were barely friends. In her memory, 200 mora—seat me at the bard's table.
[Venti]: (Wink)
[Keqing]: Rex Lapis, you too...? (Qiqi · Flatline)
[Signora]: I'm not dead yet!!! And you think you can really walk out of Tenshukaku?!
[Lumine]: Raiden Shogun wouldn't go back on her word, right? (Alert)
[Yae Miko]: From what I know of that sourpuss General, she'll let you walk out standing.
[Lumine]: See?
[Yae Miko]: But once you're out of Tenshukaku, that's another story!
[Lumine]: ...
[Signora]: Heh, not laughing now? Were you born without a sense of humor?
—Thanks to the alliance masters [Heart's Trace][ΨBroken Bridge Misty RainΨ][Against the Light] for your monthly votes—much appreciated!!